Innovative Structural Solution for Dissipative Zone Stiffened by Longitudinal Stiffeners

This paper introduces an innovative structural solution for dissipative seismic resistant structures. A steel seismic link is created using multiple longitudinal stiffeners enabling the web plate for overall plate buckling behaviour, which is beneficial with respects to ductility. Although the behaviour of such stiffened plates subjected to monotonic loading is studied in several researches, there is no data available on the cyclic ductility.Buckling resistance of thin web plates of I girder can be significantly increased by application of stiffeners in the web. Vertical stiffeners are often required in seismic links of eccentrically braced frames, but rarely used in moment resisting frames. Application of longitudinal stiffeners is common in bridge structures only. Such stiffeners are typically designed as relatively stiff and strong stiffener, that is resulting in relatively low ductility.To study the cyclic behaviour and ductility of such girders, numerical and experimental programme is worked out. Cyclic ductility is studied and compared at different stiffened geometries. The obtained results confirm the practical applicability of the conceived configurations of flexible multiple stiffeners. The results also provide as basis for further design provision development.